Gov Wike’s malevolent cauldron of lies and deceit

Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC said it has come to its attention that in an apparent attempt to respond to the challenge posed to Gov. Nyesom Wike by the former Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, that the governor should make public the so-called Justice George Omereji Panel Report purported to have indicted the former governor, Gov. Nyesom Wike seems to have gotten into panic mode capable of setting off another round of high BP for the governor.

Nyesom Wike

The APC in a statement signed by its spokesman, Senibo Chris Finebone said, “Less than 7 hours after Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi took Gov. Nyesom Wike to the cleaners on AIT morning programme, Focus Nigeria, the governor through his SA on electronic media, Simeon Nwakaudu, has hurriedly dispatched bits and pieces of scanned pages of what he titled “White Paper that indicted former Governor Chibuike Amaechi for embezzling over N500billion Rivers State funds” to various local and national media houses at exactly 17:03 hours Friday.

The APC asked: “Why has the governor refused to publish the entire Omereji Report for whatever it is worth? Why does he need to be prodded before picking and choosing what to scan, doctor and send to media houses purporting same to have indicted Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi? Again, which state executive council issued the purported White Paper when the same Gov. Wike clearly wrote in a letter to Zenith Bank asking for waiver for a bank loan on the grounds that Rivers State, at the time, had no full cabinet weeks after the governor claimed a White Paper had indicted former governor Chibuike Amaechi? Therefore, which state executive council approved and issued the said White Paper or does the law say the governor and his friends can issue a White Paper over St. Louise XIII Cognac as might have happened in this instance?”

The statement noted with disappointment that Gov. Nyesom Wike seems to have concluded that every Rivers person, nay Nigerian is like himself – a nitwit, adding that, having woefully failed in his bid to contrive an indicting report to blackmail President Muhamadu Buhari so as not to appoint Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi into the Federal Cabinet, Gov. Nyesom Wike is now finding the shame so unbearable that he has developed cold feet in making his dim-witted project public.

In a related development, the APC and other notable Rivers people have challenged Gov. Nyesom Wike to make the 2016 Rivers State Budget public after a former RSHA member blew the whistle that the governor allocated N15bn to himself as Security Vote, something that has confirmed the position of the APC that Gov. Nyesom Wike has one and only one motive for seeking to be governor of Rivers State and that one motive is seeking to provide for his insatiable and obscene appetite for money. The governor, through the State Commissioner for Information & Communications, Dr. Austin Tam-George, has denied that the governor’s security vote is N15bn but has stoutly refused to state what amount it is. The governor has also refused to make the budget public to avoid exposing the monumental in-built scam therein.

According to the APC, “in a complete deviation to the Oaths he affirmed to on 29th May, 2015 Gov. Nyesom Wike has thrown every caution to the wind as he revels in illegality. The RSHA does not have quorum of members to sit but the governor some days ago summoned the PDP caucus of 9 members in a House of 32 to confirm the appointment of a State Chief Judge. Similarly, the LGA Caretaker Committees he appointed have had their 3-month tenure lapse long ago but the governor had allowed them to continue to function illegally in office. Indeed, it appears that Gov Nyesom Wike is yet to work his mindset to the high grounds of the noble and hallowed office of a state governor. The APC fears that he never will.”

Continuing, the party said, “Governor Nyesom Wike shocked Rivers people and the watching world 3 days ago when he declared that there were no political killings in Rivers State because no prominent politician has been killed. By the governor’s warped logic, late Monday Eleanya, a former member of the RSHA and an APC Chieftain is not prominent enough in the estimation of Gov. Nyesom Wike. Again, Franklin Obi, APC Ward 4 Chairman in ONELGA who was killed and beheaded (alongside his wife and son, Bestman) is not significant enough in Wike’s strange world of make-believe. The governor has continued to roll out strange spins and reverse spins to cover up the primitive killings being carried out by franchised cult groups patronised by the PDP in Rivers State. The governor that quickly came out to claim that criminals being sought after by security agents were PDP members have now turned around to claim that those gruesomely killed in the State are being claimed by the APC as their members, something that further befuddles the mind of decent people that in the 21st Century, the governor’s utterances suggest this may actually be 16th Century.”

The Rivers State APC expressed optimism that the good people of Rivers State will demonstrate deep political sagacity and not allow themselves to become victims of the deceit of the present government of Rivers State come March 19, 2016.

Gov Wike’s malevolent cauldron of lies and deceit

APC, PDP reps clash over Rotimi Amaechi

The All Progressives Congress members of the House of Representatives clashed with their Peoples Democratic Party colleagues on Thursday over the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

Rotimi Amaechi

Amaechi appeared before the joint Committee on Marine/Land Transport to defend the 2016 budget proposals of the ministry, but the lawmakers tried to turn the session into a venue for political party supremacy battle.

The APC members, who control the majority of 213, out of the 360-member legislature, felt that the former Rivers State governor deserved some protection from the committee, as he came under a barrage of questions.

The APC lawmakers complained that too many questions were being thrown at the minister.

However, some PDP members suddenly flared up, arguing that the minister could be asked any question.

The PDP were led by Mr. Pat Asadu (Enugu State) and Mr. Nnana Igbokwe (Imo State).

The development came as the House Committee on Aviation rejected a proposal by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to spend N130m this year to conduct a security audit on the nation’s airports.

The Chairperson of the committee, Mrs. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, recalled that in 2015, a similar proposal was submitted by the agency.

She said, “I can see you people have brought this matter of security audit again, and I remember querying it last year.

“How can you spend this much on the airports even when 22 out of the 32 airports are shut down with no operation going on whatsoever?

The committee expressed its dissatisfaction with the performance of the capital projects of the NCAA, rating them as “below average.”

But the Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Mukhtar Usman, informed the committee that the agency improved on the training of personnel to meet global standards.

Similarly, the Committee on Foreign Relations declined to approve a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to spend N9bn for connectivity projects to link Abuja with all foreign missions.

APC, PDP reps clash over Rotimi Amaechi

Amaechi orders probe of Maritime Academy over N18b funds

Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi is set to probe the accounts of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State over the N18 billion  released to the institution.

Rotimi Amaechi

Amaechi, it was gathered,  has ordered the immediate audit of the accounts of the Academy  and the tenure of its Rector, Joshua Okpo.

The Rector, it was gathered,  incurred the Minister’s wrath last week when he accused the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) of starving the academy of funds. The Minister, it was learnt,  summoned the Acting Director-General of NIMASA, Haruna Jauro and demanded explanation as to why the agency was starving the academy of its statutory five per cent funds.

“The NIMASA DG was really shocked by Okpo’s allegation and he explained to the Honourable Minister that NIMASA had regularly released money due to the academy,” a source said.

Jauro, it was learnt, also informed the Minister that NIMASA had released more than N18 billion to MAN Oron between 2009 and 2014.

It was at this point that Okpo, who also attended the meeting, confirmed to the Minister that the academy had actually received up to N13 billion since 2011 when he assumed duties as the Rector of the institution, the source added.

“When asked by the Minister  to explain what he had done with the huge sums of money released to the academy against the backdrop of lack of physical infrastructural development of the institution, Okpo was short of a convincing explanation prompting the Minister to order an immediate audit of the academy’s account from 2009 to date,” the source said.

The Deputy Public Relations of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka said the financial activities of the  institution might be probed by the government.

Amaechi orders probe of Maritime Academy over N18b funds

PDP senators walk out as Amaechi is confirmed

ABUJA — The intrigues that shadowed the confirmation hearing of the 36 ministerial nominees reached an anti-climax yesterday when all but one senator in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP caucus walked out to protest the confirmation of former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, as minister.

Rotimi Amaechi

In their absence, Amaechi was unanimously confirmed after the Senate had summarily dismissed the report of its Committee on Ethics and Privileges that had recommended that the nomination be put on hold.

Besides Amaechi, 17 other ministerial nominees were also confirmed by the Senate in a session that was dramatically sketched in partisan political hues.

Responding to the spirit of unanimity APC senators brought to bear in the confirmation of Amaechi, one of the drivers of the party’s victorious presidential campaign, the APC, yesterday said it was indicative of the fact that all internal crises in the party were now in the past.

The Rivers State chapter of the party was equally effusive yesterday, saying it was a victory over the forces of darkness. While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for nominating Amaechi, the party urged Muslims in the state to use today for thanksgiving and Christians to use Sunday to thank God for the power to overcome the forces of darkness.

The signpost to the drama that unfolded was indicated by the caucuses before sitting, and the decision of the Senate to first screen and confirm the President’s nominees for chairman and commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Following that, the Senate retired into a closed-door session that lasted nearly two hours during which issues about the nominees were articulated. It was learned that the Senate President had prevailed on the PDP caucus that he would allow them express themselves before a vote on Amaechi’s confirmation.

No consensus

However, indications that a consensus was not forthcoming were indicated by the trenchant stance of the PDP senators and the APC senators once the vote on the confirmation of the ministerial nominees got underway.

Remarkably, Amaechi was listed last on the list of nominees to be confirmed, indicative of the fact that the Senate leadership had envisaged trouble.

While the preceding 17 senators were almost all confirmed without disapproval, when it got to Amaechi’s turn, Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio reminded the Senate of the earlier agreement that the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges would be considered prior to the consideration of Amaechi’s nomination.

Upon that, the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki signalled the chairman of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Senator Samuel Anyanwu to present his report.

Senator Anyanwu in his report read the findings of the committee in which he noted among others that a petition was presented to the committee alongside the report and the White Paper on the report was endorsed by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

In his findings, he said that Amaechi was represented by his counsel who submitted that the constitution of the panel by the Wike administration was the subject of a judicial process and thus, that Amaechi had decided not to appear in order not to pre-empt the ruling of the court.

In his conclusion, Anyanwu said the committee recommended that in line with the fact that the issues against Amaechi were still pending in court that the Senate should hold the nomination at bay.

The report of the Committee was signed by eight of the 11 members including three APC members, the Senate Deputy Majority Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, Dino Melaye and Omotayo Alasoadura.

Others who signed were Senators Samuel Anyanwu, PDP; Omogunwa Yele, PDP, Ondo South; Peter Nwaoboshi, PDP, Delta North; Jeremiah Useni, PDP, Plateau South; and  Obinna Ogba, PDP Ebonyi Central.

Those who did not sign were Senators Binta Garba, APC, Adamawa; Muhammed Shitu, APC, and Olaka Nwogu, PDP, Rivers, who the nominee, Amaechi had told the Senate was his roommate in the university.

Brickbats over committee report

Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ali Ndume responding to the submission moved to amend the report to the effect that the Senate should adopt the finding of the committee in 2 (b) (II) to wit:

“Since the matter is already a subject of litigation in a competent court of law, and since the Senate could not work contrary to its own rules (Order 41(7), it is constrained in taking any further action.”

Ndume’s submission immediately put the PDP senators in disarray as their  puzzled leaders looked at one another to the intent of the new submission.

Akpabio who ordinarily should second the motions brought forward by the Senate Leader, Ndume, drew back and after recovering himself, cited Order 43 of Senate Standing Rule, to the effect that the Senate had earlier resolved to first consider the report of its Ethics Committee before confirming the nominee.

Responding to Akpabio, Saraki said his point was noted following which he pointed to Senator Babajide Omoworare, APC, Osun East, who through a number of constitutional orders and standing orders of the Senate sought to dismiss the import of the report submitted by Senator Anyanwu.

He observed that the intent of the petition submitted against Amaechi barring those indicted by administrative panels of inquiry had been amended by the Constitution and was as such inconsequential to the confirmation hearing. While Senator Joshua Lidani, Gombe State contended against his submission, Senator George Sekibo from Rivers State charged the Senate to side with the administration’s anti-corruption stance by upholding the report of the committee on ethics.

PDP senators walk out

With the APC senators increasingly taking a position in favour of Amaechi, Senator Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti), said the PDP senators were resigned to their fate that they could only have their say while the APC would have its way on the issue. As she spoke, PDP senators as if on a prompting, began to signal to one another and led by Senator Akpabio they walked out of the Senate chambers.

The only PDP senator that was left behind was Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu. Following their exit, Senator Saraki raised the question as to whether the Senate should endorse the report of the Committee on Ethics and the Senate with unanimity rejected it. Following that, Saraki threw the question on whether the Senate should endorse Amaechi as a minister and he was unanimously endorsed.

PDP senators denounce confirmation

Outside the chambers, Senator Akpabio led other PDP Senators to denounce the process that led to the confirmation.

“The reality is that once a case is before the law, anything about the case is dropped. The issue of taking further action should be stayed, but APC is not willing to abide by the law. We have no option than to stage a walk out. We have a responsibility to Nigerians not to partake in that kind of action. It was not normal for PDP Senators to walk out. This is the first time, and we feel strongly there was a breach of the Nigerian Constitution.”

The APC, however, welcomed the process. Praising the sense of unity among the APC senators, outgoing party spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said yesterday:

“The cohesion and unity exhibited by the APC Senators on Thursday have shown that our legislators are ready to work with the executive and the party to ensure that the agenda of the party is implemented for the benefit of all Nigerians. We commend all our members and leaders in the Senate and indeed the leadership of the APC for this show of unity,” the party said.

Saying that the confirmation of Amaechi despite the walkout by the PDP caucus was reflective of democracy in action, the party said:

“It is part of democracy that while the minority can have their say, the majority will have their way. Therefore, the decision of the PDP Senators to walk out is nothing but democracy in action,’’ the party said.

APC lauds Senate

Welcoming the confirmation of Amaechi yesterday, the spokesman of the APC in Rivers State, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze said:

“The Eighth Senate has by this action proved that they are not only patriotic and nationalist but also that they cannot allow petty politics to becloud their sense of reasoning as they seek to accomplish the onerous task of building a virile, vibrant, united and strong Nigeria.”

Other nominees who were confirmed before Amaechi were Barrister Adebayo Shittu, Khadijah Abba Ibrahim, Heineken Lokpobiri , Cladius Omoleye Daramola, Baba Shehuri Mustapha, Ocholi E. James and Adewole Isaac Folorunso. The rest are Honourable Bawa Bwari, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, Zainab S. Ahmed, Mansur Mohammed Dan Ali, Pastor Usani Usani Uguru, Mr. Okechukwu Enyinma Enelamah, Professor Anwukah Anthony Gozie, Mohammed Musa Bello, Adamu Adamu and Aisha Abubakar.

PDP senators walk out as Amaechi is confirmed

There is no Order against the screening of Hon. Amaechi, Says Rivers APC

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress [APC], says its attention has been drawn to a statement being circulated in the media that Mr. Livingstone Wechie has obtained a court order restraining the Senate from Screening Rt. Rotimi Amaechi as a ministerial nominee.

Rotimi Amaechi

The APC said following the announcement, it made frantic search at the Federal High Court across the Country and did not find any such proceedings pending or ORDER before any Court in the Country, the Federal High Court being the only Court that has jurisdiction to determine any matter in which the Senate is made a party and its duties and functions are the subject matter, in view of Section 251 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

Continuing the party said, “again, because we are aware of the desperation of the PDP and Mr. Livingstone Wechie on this matter, we have nonetheless carried out a search at the High Court Registry in Rivers State, and no indication that such Order exists at the High Court of Rivers State, except if such order is given to Mr. Livingstone WECHIE in the sitting room of a Judge, which we know that no right thinking judicial officer will do so, especially at this time that the National Judicial Council is desirous of sanitizing the Judiciary.”

“Clearly, the State High Court has no powers or jurisdiction under the Constitution to determine a matter in which the subject matter relates to the duties or functions of the Senate. The distinguished and Honourable Judges of the Rivers State High Court are fully aware of this Constitutional provision. We strongly believe that none of them would be drawn into such level of judicial rascality or abuse of office, no matter the inducement or incentive” the APC said in a statement signed and made available to NF-Reports by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone.

The APC urged all good people of Rivers State to remain calm and await the Senate Report and action as has been announced by the Most Distinguished Senate President.

“We hereby give notice to the Directorate of State Security Services and the Nigerian Police to investigate this level of misinformation that is capable of breaching the peace. We urge them to be vigilant and watch for any attempt to forge and criminally alter documentation at the Rivers State High Court Registry”, the statement concluded.

There is no Order against the screening of Hon. Amaechi, Says Rivers APC

Ministerial List: APC lauds Nigerian Senate over support, love for Amaechi

 

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Rivers State chapter has hailed the awesome show of support and love by overwhelming number of Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi when the Senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District, Senator George Sekibo attempted to submit a purported petition against former Governor Amaechi on the floor of the Senate Wednesday.

Rotimi Amaechi

To the APC, the story of Senator George Sekibo easily qualifies as a classical case of somebody “biting the finger that fed him or her.”

The APC in a statement signed and made available to NAIJA CENTER NEWS by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Chris Finebone said, “We would like to recall that former governor Chibuike Amaechi it was who single-handedly insisted and supported Senator George Sekibo in 2011 against the vehement agitation by Nyesom Wike for the Rivers East Senatorial ticket. Despite being the governor’s Chief of Staff, the then Governor Amaechi resisted Wike’s intensive lobby and stood by Senator Sekibo to go for a second term. Apparently, this is one of the grievances Wike nurses for Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi to this day.”

It explained that George Sekibo is a 3 times Senator today is due to former governor Amaechi’s moral, political and resource support and the Senator knows this. All the Senators before Sekibo including Senator John Mbata served only two terms.

The further reads: “It was a relief that Senator George Sekibo finally exposed himself today as the character behind the production of 116 CDs titled Rivers of Corruption for distribution to the 109 Senators of the Federal Republic in which highly malicious and unfounded accusations of corruption were levelled against the person of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi without proof of any kind. The aforesaid CDs are a repetition of accusations earlier made against the former governor by the so-called Integrity Group formed and sponsored by Governor Nyesom Wike and the PDP for which all the issues have earlier been sufficiently dealt with by all those who served under the former governor as Commissioners.

“It is not surprising that Senator George Sekibo lacks basic knowledge of how the Amaechi administration worked otherwise he would have understood that former Governor Chibuike Amaechi only exercised oversight while the Commissioners where the actual managers of government projects and programmes under the different Ministries.

“The APC would like to emphasize that the former Commissioners who were executors of the Amaechi administration’s projects and programmes have also robustly responded to the Integrity Group with facts and figures that showed off their accusations as a tissue of lies and a figment of their warped imaginations

“Once again, it was a thing of joy to observe Distinguished Senators across party lines spontaneously rise in defence of a good man whose only offence is his dogged fight that contributed in no small way to the woeful defeat of the PDP and former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in the 2015 general elections. Our Distinguished Senators rose beyond partisan and narrow interests when it mattered most and showed that an exceedingly visionary leader like Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi cannot be made a victim of cheap political blackmail by some selfish, misguided and small-minded persons.

“The APC would like to warn the likes of George Sekibo not to embark on the fruitless enterprise of launching hate campaigns against Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi as God will continue to render such exercises dead on arrival. Whom God has blessed, no man can curse.”

Ministerial List: APC lauds Nigerian Senate over support, love for Amaechi

Police uncover groups plan to protest Amaechi’s ministerial nomination

THE Rivers State Police Command said on Tuesday that it had uncovered plots by two opposing groups to demonstrate over the nomination of the immediate past governor of the state, Rotimi Amaechi as a minister.

Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase

The State Police Command explained that while one of the groups would be protesting against the emergence of Amaechi as a ministerial nominee, the other would embark on a rally in support of the former governor’s expected emergence as a minister.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Musa Kimo, in a statement signed by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, warned the opposing groups to jettison the planned protest in order not to truncate the existing peace in the state.

Kimo cautioned that the command would not tolerate a situation where the protest would lead to the breakdown of law and order in the state.

“The Rivers State Police Commissioner has uncovered clandestine moves by two opposing groups to stage a protest in Port Harcourt purposely to express their support or opposition to the ministerial nomination of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi by Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Accordingly, the Commissioner of Police hereby warns these groups to jettison the plan to stage the protest so as not to truncate the existing peace in the state.

“While the Command respects the individual’s right of peaceful assembly, it will not tolerate a situation where such protests will lead to breach of the public peace and breakdown of law and order,” the statement read.

He, however, urged the people of the state to remain calm, confident and trust in the ability of the command to discharge its responsibility of ensuring public peace and security.

According to the statement, “The Commissioner of Police enjoins the good people of Rivers State to remain calm, hopeful, confident and trusting in the ability of the Command to discharge its constitutional mandate of ensuring public peace and security; as well as upholding democratic rights and rule of law.

Police uncover groups plan to protest Amaechi’s ministerial nomination

Ministerial List: We Won"t Victimise Amaechi - South-East Senator

THE lawmaker representing Rivers South-East senatorial district, Senator Olaka Nwogu, has said that senators, especially those from Rivers State, will not antagonise or victimise the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, should he (Amaechi) appear before the Senate for ministerial screening.

Rotimi Amaechi

There are speculations that the former governor’s name was among the 21 names sent to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the screening expected to begin later this week.

It will be recalled that Amaechi, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and the leader of the party in the state, had come under intense criticism by the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.

Recently, the former governor was criticised by the PDP for refusing to appear before a judicial commission of inquiry set up by Governor Nyesom Wike over the sale of some assets belonging to Rivers.

Amaechi alleged that the panel was set up to victimise him.

The three senators representing Rivers State are from the PDP; a party that had insisted that Amaechi should appear before the panel to defend himself.

Speaking in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Saturday, Nwogu explained that though the senators would ask the ministerial nominees questions where necessary, Amaechi would not be singled out for any form of victimisation.

According to the lawmaker, “If there are questions to be asked, we, as senators, will ask questions. But at the same time, we shall not be against anybody.

“We will not single out Amaechi for any treatment different from what others will go through. We will not go with any element of bias.”

He pointed out that a ministerial nominee would be approved by the Senate if senators believed that he/she would do a good job as a minister.

Nwogu, however, stated that the National Assembly would not hesitate to reject a nominee that would not be able to carry out the responsibility of a minister after being appointed.

He promised that the National Assembly would not disappoint Nigerians during the screening, adding that the senators will do their best for the country.

“If we think that you as a ministerial nominee will do a good job, we will support you. On the other hand, if we think that you will not do a good job, we will insist.

“But we will not embark on a witch-hunt against anybody. We will not antagonise anybody. We will do our best for the country,” Nwogu maintained.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government and the Peoples Democratic Party in the state said they would prefer to keep mum on speculations that the name of Amaechi was on the ministerial list handed over to the Senate by the President.

The Media Assistant to Wike, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, told our correspondent that the state government would take a position after the Senate must have read out the list on Tuesday.

Nwakaudu explained that everything about the content of the ministerial list would be mere speculation until it is read out by the Senate.

“Let the list be read first; if the list comes out, we will formerly take a position on that. Every other thing we see now is a mere speculation,” he stressed.

Similarly, the state PDP Deputy Publicity Secretary, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, said the party would, as usual, be very thorough in its position on whether Amaechi’s name appeared on the list or not, but would have to wait until the Senate reads out the list on Tuesday.

“When they (Senate) read out the list, we (PDP) will react. We are always thorough when we take a position on an issue. They said it is the Senate that will disclose the content of the list and that will be on Tuesday. We are waiting for them to do that,” Nwanosike added.

Ministerial List: We Won"t Victimise Amaechi - South-East Senator

Amaechi drags PDP to court, demands N300bn for damages

THE immediate past governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has dragged the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, its Chairman, Chief Felix Obuah, and two others to an Abuja High Court over allegations that he embezzled $757m (N80bn) belonging to the state while in office.

Rotimi Amaechi

In what appears to be a fight back by the former governor, Amaechi said in a statement he issued on Tuesday that he had also sued the state PDP and two others for alleging that he (Amaechi) operated a private foreign account where he lodged the said public funds.

Although the former governor did not identify the two other persons he joined in his suit, Amaechi said the allegation had done a lot of harm to his person and reputation, and he demanded N300 billion as damages.

Amaechi recalled that the state PDP on August 6, and August 21, 2015, alleged that he stole the sum of $757 million or N80 billion of Rivers money and stashed them away in an account in his name in Bancorp Bank in Minnesota, United State of America.

The immediate past governor explained in a statement that ever since the said invidious and libelous publications by the PDP and Felix Obuah emerged in public domain, he had been “inundated, bombarded and confronted by several persons who expressed lack of respect, loss of faith in him and who no longer regard him as trustworthy and now view him as a common criminal.”

The statement also said, “The PDP also alleged that Amaechi had embezzled millions of dollars of Rivers State money and stashed the money in other foreign accounts in his name, including a bank in Switzerland. The PDP claimed that the various Amaechi foreign accounts were revealed and blown open by Christine Amanpour of America’s Cable News Network.

“The PDP went further to claim that Bancorp Bank, Minnesota, had written to President Muhammadu Buhari that part of the funds was to purchase a residence for Amaechi in America and that they (Bancorp Bank) intend to return the stolen funds to Nigeria.

“Against PDP, Felix Obuah and two others, Amaechi is seeking the sum of N300, 000, 000, 000.00 for general damages done to him and defamation of his character, reputation and person.”

However, in this fresh suit filed before an Abuja High Court, FCT, Amaechi stated that each of the said malicious publications by the defendants (PDP, Felix Obuah and two others) are untrue, false, motivated by ill-will and without any foundations in truth whatsoever.

Reacting, Obuah told our correspondent that he would not comment on Amaechi’s action immediately.

Obuah promised that his lawyers would react appropriately by the time he read the publication on the said lawsuit by Amaechi.

“I have not seen the publication. When I see the publication, I will tell my lawyers to react appropriately,” Obuah stressed.

Amaechi drags PDP to court, demands N300bn for damages

Probe: Be ready to face the consequences of your actions - Wike tells Amaechi

By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News

The Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has asked the immediate past governor, Romiti Amaechi and others who shunned the probe to be ready to bear the consequences of their actions.

Nyesom Wike and Romiti Amaechi

The Governor also vowed to implement whatever recommendation the judiciary commission of inquiry may recommend without fear or favour.

The Justice George Omereji seven-man commission of inquiry concluded its proceedings over the weekend after several failed attempt to invite Amaechi to clear some inditing allegations.

The commission of inquiry was set up by Governor Wike to probe the sale of the state valued assets by Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

 

According to the special adviser on media and publicity to the governor, Pounabo Inko-Tariah, the state government is eagerly waiting for the recommendation of the Justice Omereji Commission, which will be implemented without considering friends or foes.

Inko-Tariah denied the cry by Amaechi that the commission was set up to witch-hunt him, instead it was legally constituted to investigate  financial transactions like $39.2m paid to a contractor that never executed the Justice Adolphus Karibi Whyte special hospital project, and sale of state owned four gas turbine power stations.

“ The commission was set up to ascertain certain financial transactions under Amaechi. Rivers State funds were involved in these transactions and we assume some of the funds might have been embezzled and that is the reason for the commission.”

Probe: Be ready to face the consequences of your actions - Wike tells Amaechi

Nobody can probe me - Amaechi

The immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, says no anti-corruption agency in the country can probe him.

Rotimi Amaechi

The PUNCH had reported that Amaechi along with some other former governors: Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano); Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Shehu Shema (Katsina) and Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State were being probed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and related offences Commission.

However, Chief Tony Okocha, a former aide to Amaechi, told one of our correspondents that the ex-governor was not afraid of ICPC or the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as long as the probe was not a witch-hunt.

Okocha, however, recalled that the ICPC and the EFCC had not vacated a court order stopping any of them from investigating any Rivers Government official and as such could not probe him.

He stated that Governor Nyesom Wike was a beneficiary of such order from the court, adding that until the court injunction was vacated, it would be illegal for the ICPC to probe his boss.

“I have always said that Amaechi is not afraid of the EFCC or the ICPC as long as such probe is not a witch-hunt. Again, there is a court order that the EFCC or other agency like it cannot probe any government official in the state. Wike is a beneficiary of that court order.

“Until that court order is vacated, the ICPC or the EFCC have no right to investigate Amaechi. Since what they are going to investigate is his (Amaechi’s) activities while in government, the EFCC and the ICPC do not have such right to do so based on the standing court order.”

The Chief Press Secretary to Fashola, Mr. Hakeem Bello, did not respond to the intended probe of his boss by the ICPC.

However, Fashola, while speaking at the 16th annual Bishop Mike Okonkwo Lecture in Lagos, “I will not respond to allegations of corruption on the pages of newspapers.”

Similarly, Shema, Kwankwaso and Lamido did not respond to phone calls on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has challenged the ICPC to explain to Nigerians why it did not include former Governor Kayode Fayemi among those it is currently probing.

According to the party, the anti-graft agencies have been given more than enough petitions and facts to assist them in getting to the root of the financial misconduct allegedly perpetrated by Fayemi while in office.

Nobody can probe me - Amaechi

Amaechi warns Wike against taking God for granted

Former Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on Saturday, warned his successor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, against taking God for granted.

Amaechi also said he decided to shun the judicial commission of inquiry set up by Wike because the panel was illegal.

Nyesom Wike and Romiti Amaechi

The ex-governor, while speaking with his supporters and members of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, stated that he would only appear before the commission of inquiry if Wike complied with the law.

Amaechi stated that the governor had already adjudged him to be guilty in the presence of members of the panel and vowed that he would go to court over the matter.

He insisted that he would not appear before the Justice George Omeriji panel until an independent person or body was called to handle the probe of his administration.

Amaechi said, “Nyesom Wike was not afraid of God in the past; he never went to church. Today, he is going on bended knees to the same God we worship. Don’t take God for granted because if we don’t go back to God to remind Him, God may answer his (Wike’s) prayers.”

Recalling how his relative was allegedly killed in front of Wike’s father’s house at Rumueprikom, the former governor called on President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the deaths in the state.

He said, “We are asking the Federal Government to investigate it; we have written, asking for investigation but nothing has happened yet. We hope that the President will call on the IGP to investigate what happened with his policemen. We need the IGP to investigate so that people don’t encourage impunity.”

Amaechi warns Wike against taking God for granted

PDP Flaws Amaechi’s Claim On N7.5b Leftover

…Says It’s Vindicated By Bancorp Bank Revelations Of Amaechi’s N80b Loot In US, Switzerland Banks

The Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, says the recent claim by the former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, that he left behind as balances in the State Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) account with some banks in the State a total of N7.5billion does not go down well with the Party, as there was no such amount in the State treasury on assumption of office by the current administration of Governor Wike on May 29, 2015.

Nyesom Wike and Romiti Amaechi

The PDP describes Amaechi’s claim as false, unfounded and indefensible, pointing out flaws, inconsistency and uncertainty in the former Governor’s statement where he said he left a total of N7.5billion “but by the time you pull all these (accounts) together, we are looking at readily available cash in the region of eight to ten billion naira left for the Wike administration”.

The Party reiterates its position that the former governor stole billions of Dollars and looted assets belonging to the State, some of which he used in funding the activities of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and also lodged in several of his private foreign accounts.

Supporting its argument, the Party calls the attention of the public to the recent revelation by the Bancorp Bank, Minnesota, United States, in which it has communicated to the Nigerian Government an alleged $757 million Dollars (N80 Billion) domiciled in an account in Amaechi’s name by one of Nigerians banks, explaining that the Minnesota bank intends to return Rotimi Amaechi’s loot, which was part of the stolen funds by the former Governor, who in the letter is described as the most corrupt Nigerian Governor.

The Bancorp Bank letter to President Buhari stated that the said transfer to both banks in Minnesota and Switzerland were for the purchase of security Helicopters, spraying of Mosquito insecticides and for the purchase of a residence for Mr. Rotimi Amaechi in America.

Not done with the above instances, the PDP further explained that Rivers State was bankrupt under Amaechi, even when he was receiving about Six billion Naira monthly as IGR, demanding answers from Amaechi on why he could not pay Civil servants, Pensioners, TIMARIV workers, Students’ Scholarship, Contractors, Teachers at the Nne Krubo Model Secondary School, Eleme among others, for several months when he still had the said amount he claimed he left in the State’s treasury.

It is on record that the former Governor admitted that Rivers State was broke and that “there was nothing for Wike to work with because the State was broke”.

Expressing concern why the long delay in making his claim public, the PDP challenges the former Governor to substantiate his claims and to a public debate if he would be taken seriously.

The PDP therefore, calls on the public not to believe the concocted and fallacious claims of former Governor Amaechi, as there was no such amount left behind by his administration that even deliberately refused to collaborate or have an interface with the May 29 Transition Committee on Governor Nyesom Wike, adding that there are enough evidence on several corrupt actions and the monumental looting carried out by Chibuike Amaechi and his aides, which must be recovered.

PDP Flaws Amaechi’s Claim On N7.5b Leftover

I left N10bn for Wike - Amaechi

PORT HARCOURT—Former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi has said he left a balance of between eight to ten billion naira for his successor, Governor Nyesom Wike.

In a statement from his from his media office yesterday, the former governor denied that he handed over an empty treasury to his successor.

Nyesom Wike and Romiti Amaechi

The statement by the former Governor’s media office, yesterday, revealed that a total of N7.5 billion cash was left behind as balances in the State Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, account with Skye Bank, FAAC account with Zenith Bank, balances with Access Bank and funds in the State reserve fund account in First Bank.

“This is besides other balances in the state Government House account with Zenith Bank and other government MDA accounts, like the Bureau for Public Procurement, BPP. By the time you pull all these together, we are looking at readily available cash in the region of eight to ten billion naira left for the Wike administration.”

“It’s also pertinent to point out here that former governor Amaechi also left economic assets worth tens of billions of naira for the state. Just like cash, the assets store value. These assets that are scattered in diverse sectors of the economy were developed or built or procured with revenue that accrued to the state during Amaechi’s tenure. The assets belong to Rivers State, not Amaechi. Some of these assets are presently yielding revenue to the state coffers, and many can be easily and readily converted to cash, if the State so desires.

“It is therefore disingenuous and fraudulent for Wike to claim that Amaechi left an empty treasury in his bid to justify the N30 billion loans he collected under 30 days in office. Rather than this puerile and silly distraction of always pointing accusing fingers at Amaechi, Wike should come out to explain to Rivers people what he took the loans for, account for and justify every kobo that has been spent from the loans”, the statement concluded.

But media aide to governor Nyesom Wike, Mr Opunabo Nko-Tariah, described the claim by the former governor as another tissue of lies, stressing that if he left what he claimed how come civil servants, pensioners , footballers, contractors were owed by his government.

He said even students on the state scholarship program overseas were almost sent out of the classroom over unpaid fees, adding that the issue was not all about empty treasury alone as properties in Government House, Port Harcourt were allegedly looted before the handover date of May 29..

Governor Wike had consistently maintained that he met a completely empty treasury when he took over as governor.

Only on Wednesday, while trying to justify why he took a total of N30 billion bank loans from Zenith and Access banks under 30 days in office, Wike had through his spokesman, Opunabo Inko-Tariah told a radio station in Port Harcourt that he met an empty treasury when he took over government.

However, Amaechi has openly put a lie to Wike’s claim, saying he left billions of naira in cash and economic assets for Rivers State.

 

I left N10bn for Wike - Amaechi

Amaechi"s role to free Nigeria of the Polio Scourge

By Philemon Doro Adjekuko.

It has been about a year now since Nigeria recorded any case of polio. For over 17 years, the disease was on rampage, especially in the northern part of the country. The country accounted for about 50% of global and 80% of African polio cases. Nigeria was the face of the disease.

According to one medical source, “polio is a viral illness that begins with flu-like symptoms of fever, headache, vomiting and/or diarrhea and muscle aching. The virus enters the body through the stomach and intestines. In some people the virus can enter into the central nervous system and produce damage to motor nerve cells, whose function is to instruct muscles to move”.

Rotimi Amaechi

Concerned about the inability of national governments to tackle the rapid advance of the disease, the World Health Organisation (WHO) back in 1988 launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) with the goal of eradicating the disease by the year 2000. By 1996, WHO realized that the eradication initiative was not going as planned in terms of reducing the outbreak and spread of the disease. A massive booster immunization initiative “kick out polio” was launched. The initiative was indeed ground breaking as vaccination was taken to the door steps of millions of children across the world, especially in vulnerable regions. Nigeria was again, the poster child of the campaign.

According to Maryam Yahya an anthropological researcher, everything was going on well until July 2003 when three Northern states of Kano, Zamfara and Kaduna halted the campaign on the ground that “the vaccines were deliberately contaminated with anti-fertility agents and the HIV virus” There were also some cultural and political angles to the boycott.

The botched Trovan trial on 200 children against meningitis by Pfizer in 1996 which led to the death of at least five of them provided another strong reason for the popularity of the call for boycott of the polio immunization. The boycott was costly in both economic and human terms as more northern states joined. Most of those who managed to survive polio attack became severely and irreversibly deformed.

That was the state of things when then Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi took over as Chairman of Governor’s Forum in May 2011. Health was on top of Amaechi’s mind and he had a robust plan for primary, secondary and tertiary levels of the health sector in Rivers State. But he was greatly disturbed by the heavy toll polio was inflicting on the country, especially in the north.

Back in May 2014 when I asked Mr Asishana Okauru, DG of Governors’ Forum about how Amaechi went about the fight against polio, he was practically speechless. When he eventually got his voice back, he said he had never seen anything like it.

“Ameachi made polio a permanent part of our agenda for at least 18 months. At every single meeting it was discussed. So when you see that polio is being well managed today it is because of his effort. And I can tell you that it is that same spirit that helped the country with the outbreak of ebola. So with that state of mind every time there is a challenge that should be handled at the sub-national level with a common governance template, you see all of them (the governors) moving in the same direction because of that mentality. So, when you have something consistently on your agenda for eighteen months, there is just no way would you not make progress”.

Okauru said each of the states set up an emergency centre that was linked to a special desk managed by a public health expert Dr Zikrullah Giwa at the Forum’s office in Abuja. At each meeting, Dr Giwa would brief the governors on the state of affairs in the crisis states. Any state that was not doing well with the immunization initiative was put on the spot for explanation. The governors all bought into the project so much so that they never travelled for the Forum’s meetings without establishing their current “status” from their commissioners of health.

As Okauru said above, it was that collegiate and governance template approach that later became helpful during the deadly Ebola outbreak in mid-2014. Incidentally, Rivers State was the only state outside Lagos that was hit by Ebola. The collaborative efforts of the two states as well as the Federal Government helped Nigeria tremendously in containing the spread of the fearsome disease.

The success recorded in the immunization program following Amaechi’s drive at the Forum has paid off handsomely. Having been free of a fresh case of polio in almost a year, Nigeria is currently waiting to be delisted from the list of polio endemic countries by end of August this year. If the status quo remains till 2017, the country will be then be declared polio free. If that happens, it will be a major relief to Africa and the rest of the world.

Hopefully, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi will be remembered for his tireless effort and contribution to making Nigeria polio free.

Philemon Doro Adjekuko is a development economist and media consultant based in Abuja.

Amaechi"s role to free Nigeria of the Polio Scourge

Wike"s afraid over plans by Buhari to probe Jonathan"s ministers - APC

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has said that the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and his party, Peoples Democratic Party, are thrown into panic since President Muhammadu Buhari gave the hint that corrupt Ministers and officials of the immediate past administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan would be probed.

Nyesom Wike and Romiti Amaechi

In a statement signed by the party State Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, the APC said “As part of the cauldron of confusion in which the governor and his party have been thrown into, the Spokesperson of the governor, Opunabo Inko-Tariah recently came out with what would pass for a litany of incoherent ironical lines which clearly typifies the quandary in which the governor and his party now find themselves.

“Like the proverbial sinking man who is bent on dragging along anyone in sight, Wike babbled between name-callings of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and President Buhari to threats of resistance in an obvious display of disconcerted state of mind and disorientated thought process.

“On one hand, the governor, through Mr. Inko-Tariah, claimed to support the fight against corruption and everything should be done to retrieve our stolen commonwealth but quickly turned around to recommend what the scope, span and colour of the probe should be. Not done, the governor threatened resistance should Mr. President not adopt his own [Wike’s] anti-corruption crusade template.

“For a governor who set up a probe panel with a mandate to probe only the last 18 months of his predecessor’s administration to now turn around to insist that the President should extend his probe to cover the last 30 years says so much about the character and persona of Governor Nyesom Wike. One may ask, between the governor’s 18-month probe and that of the President which spans 4 whole years, which is a more selective probe? Is it that Governor Nyesom Wike thinks Rivers State is now a state populated by nit-wits?

“It is perhaps necessary at this point to help Governor Wike remember what OBJ said of President Buhari when the latter headed the PTF. OBJ had this to say recently:

“When you were going to become the manager of PTF, we talked about it and when you finished and I took over, we looked into it.

“I haven’t said this publicly, I would say it publicly now. When we looked into it, there was really nothing amiss except that that organisation went from road building to mosquito net-buying and all sorts of things.”

APC continued: “The governor finally settled on his most-priced self-appointed mission – that of deconstructing, degrading and witch-hunting of his former boss and tarring him to his heart’s desire. Wike claimed that the former governor was corrupt, citing certain projects which he, as Chief of Staff, knew the real facts about.

“For example, say what you may about the Monorail Project, the APC would like to challenge Governor Wike to provide evidence of a cheaper monorail project [per mile] anywhere in the world.

“As the leader of our party, the APC, we profoundly believe in the impeccable integrity of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday, today and tomorrow. No amount of campaign of calumny and caustic bitterness by the likes of Gov. Wike can change that.

“Gov. Wike’s warning to the Department of State Security [DSS] over the arrest of Dame Gesila Khan, INEC REC for Rivers State is understandable to even the most naive observer. We believe that the humongous sum of N700m reportedly found in her account must be funds the Jonathan Presidency and Candidate Nyesom Wike paid out to the woman to buy the mandate of Rivers people in the last general elections. Sadly, they did not tutor her well enough on how to deal with such huge amount of money. You cannot have a perfect crime.

“Finally, Gov. Wike’s lamentations are not as a result of the governor’s concern for former President Goodluck Jonathan; Wike is clearly weeping for himself because his indictment on the humongous fraud that took place in the Federal Ministry of Education and Universal Basic Education Commission all under his watch as Minister of State and substantive Minister, clearly hang on his neck like the hangman’s noose waiting to snap.”

Wike"s afraid over plans by Buhari to probe Jonathan"s ministers - APC

Amaechi Lied, I Met Empty Treasury – Wike

THE Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said contrary to the claims of the immediate past administration that it left N7 bn in the state coffers, he met an empty treasury.

Nyesom Wike and Romiti Amaechi

Wike explained that the treasury where the monthly federal allocation accruing to the state was always kept had remained in debit as of May 29 when he (governor) took over the reins of governance in the state.

The governor made this remark on Thursday at the Government House in Port Harcourt during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and officials of Julius Berger and a Chinese Construction firm, CCECC, for the rehabilitation of 33 kilometres of township roads in the state capital.

He stated that from the brief he received from the State Accountant General after his inauguration, only one revenue account with Sterling Bank had some funds left by the immediate past administration.

Wike said, “I want to say in good authority that we did not meet any N7 bn as being speculated. The state’s FAAC account as of May 29, 2015 was in debit. That was the briefing I received from the Accountant-General.”

Signing the MoU with two construction giants, Julius Berger and CCECC, Wike explained that the step was in realisation of his administration’s Zero Potholes programme launched on May 29, 2015.

According to the governor, while Julius Berger is to handle the rehabilitation of 11 kilometres of township roads alongside street lights and traffic lights, the CCECC will handle 20 kilometres of township roads in Port Harcourt.

He explained that the state government had resolved to work with the construction giants to rebuild road infrastructure in the state capital and added that the revival of facilities in the state capital was beyond political consideration.

Wike noted that the funds for the ‘Operation Zero Potholes’ had been set aside, hence the signing of the memorandum of understanding to ensure that the companies concluded work in 120 days.

He, however, promised to personally monitor the execution of the projects by the construction giants.

Wike explained that his administration had resolved to take the N10bn loan with specific focus on key projects to be implemented, noting that the request to the State House of Assembly was accompanied by all the projects to be executed.

Responding, representative of Julius Berger Plc, Mr. Marco Braun, assured the Rivers State Government that the project would be completed as scheduled.

Also, the representative of CCECC, Mr Lee Kin Yong, expressed happiness that the Chinese company would be involved in the revival of infrastructure in the state.

The signing of the memorandum of understanding was supervised by the Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chinwe Aguma.

Amaechi Lied, I Met Empty Treasury – Wike

A killer cannot be a governor - Amaechi tells Wike

THE feud between the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and the Governor-elect, Chief Nyesom Wike, reached a boiling point on Tuesday when the former accused the latter of being responsible for the deaths recorded in the state during the 2015 general elections.

Nyesom Wike and Romiti Amaechi

Amaechi had declared during a public lecture in Port Harcourt to mark his 50th birthday that God would not allow a killer to be the governor of Rivers State.

But Wike, who had attended another public lecture in the state capital, said he had no record of killing anybody and expressed displeasure that a public officer like Amaechi could speak in manner that was not expected of him.

 Wike expressed optimism that he would be sworn in as the governor of the state on May 29, despite moves by Amaechi to scuttle his inauguration.

Speaking further, Amaechi stated that the governor-elect should realise that he (Wike) was his chief of staff, adding that Wike’s record was with him.

Explaining that he will never kill anybody because of personal ambition, the governor dismissed Wike’s description of him (Amaechi) as a corrupt person, adding that the governor-elect was accusing him of corruption because he (Wike) was looking for a way to negotiate with him (Amaechi) and his supporters.

Amaechi said, “In a bid for Wike to be governor, he hired …. an ex-militant. They killed a young man in Okrika and cut off his private parts. They slashed a young man’s throat and decided to hang his head on a tree.

“When I wanted to become governor, God took me aside and allowed Rivers people to vote for Celestine Omehia and He brought me back. So, nobody died. In 2011, the opposition joined us to vote for us; nobody died.

“But because of one man’s ambition, we were losing human beings everyday. Walking like a thug, killing people like a thug. The God I worship will answer our prayers. God will not allow those who kill people to be governor of Rivers State. God will allow only those who worship Him. I am not perfect.

“Even some of you pray more than me. My priest told me God said we would defeat Nyesom Wike. God said so. The same way God told me in 2007 that I would be governor. God will not allow us to make a killer, somebody who has killed human beings, to become the governor of Rivers State.

“I have been listening to Mr. Nyesom Wike and I have been trying not to reply him. He has been accusing me of corruption and I have been trying to keep quiet over the issue of corruption. A thief cannot call me corrupt. The first lesson he needs to learn is that he was Chief of Staff to my government. If I have no records, I have records on him.

“Why Nyesom Wike is talking the way he is talking is that they are looking for us to come and negotiate with them, so that they can illegally stay in office. They cannot stay like that. We are already in court (tribunal),” Amaechi said.

Recalling how he decided not to probe his predecessor, Dr. Peter Odili, the governor pointed out that the people would at the end ask him about his achievements and not the number of people his administration probed.

However, Wike, who spoke through his Media aide, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, added that Amaechi’s comment against him was an indication that the governor was not worthy of holding public office.

He said, “Only a man who is irresponsible would make such a comment. It shows that he is not worthy of the public office he occupies. He (Amaechi) is making comments that are completely out of place for people who should be in leadership position.

“To begin with and contrary to what Governor Amaechi said, the governor-elect is a God-fearing person, who believes in the rule of law. He is not involved in any killing and he will never be involved. He has never done anything that is outside of the law.

“Such unguarded comments should be disregarded by members of the public and well-meaning persons just like Channels Television did and apologised seriously to Nigerians. Amaechi promoted insecurity everywhere.

“God has already made it possible for Barrister Nyesom Wike to be governor. The people have already endorsed it as they voted for him massively. Amaechi is too small to stop the will of the people. On May 29, 2015, that will would be consummated during the swearing-in of Barrister Nyesom Wike.”

A killer cannot be a governor - Amaechi tells Wike

Amaechi blames FG for inability to pay salaries, pensions

The Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has again declared that Nigeria is broke and blamed the inability of the state and others to pay workers’ salaries and pensions on the nation’s current poor financial condition.

Amaechi said that the nation’s economic condition could be noticed through the dwindling statutory monthly allocation usually received by the state from the Federal Government.

Speaking during a thanksgiving service organised by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, and his campaign outfit, the Greater Campaign Organisation in Port Harcourt on Sunday, the governor recalled that he was described as an alarmist last year when he cried out over Nigeria’s poor financial state.

Amaechi pointed out that the nation’s economy had continued to fall since he made the statement in December 2014.

“When I said sometime last year that Nigeria’s finances was in a dire strait, some people referred to me as an alarmist. Since I made that statement in December last year, the statutory allocation to the state has continued to decline.

“Now, almost all the states are finding it difficult to pay salaries. The state government owes civil servants their April salaries and pensioners’ four months’ salary arrears because the state does not have the money to pay them,” the governor said.

Amaechi explained that he decided to channel financial resources towards the completion of ongoing projects, which he promised would be completed before the end of his administration on May 29, 2015.

He said, “Some people have chosen to make an issue of the difficulty we are currently experiencing in paying the salaries of civil servants as well as the arrears of our retirees. It is not our making.

“No government will deliberately refuse to pay the salaries of its workers. We will pay as soon as we receive our share of our statutory monthly allocation from the Federal Government.

“It is not easy to joggle the payment of salaries and the implementation of capital projects that are actually geared towards developing the state, creating jobs and improving the economy of the state because more monies go into the society when you award contracts and pay the contractors on time so that they can also pay their workers on time.”

Amaechi blames FG for inability to pay salaries, pensions

APC accuses PDP, INEC Of Trying To Cover Up Evidence Of Election Rigging In Rivers

•Chides Wike and REC Gesila Khan

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has accused the State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the State of desperately trying to cover up evidence of the brazen rigging of the recent general elections in the State. Rivers APC made the allegation while reacting to the suit lodged at the Federal High Court Port Harcourt, in which Rivers PDP and INEC are claiming that the INEC card readers meant to be used during the March 28 Presidential/National Assembly and April 11 Governorship/State Assembly elections in Rivers State were stolen by unknown persons, thus purportedly necessitating manual accreditation of ghost voters.

APC Rivers State

“By going to court to tell this childish story, Rivers INEC and its partner in crime, PDP, have only exposed their desperation to whitewash the charade they perpetrated in Rivers State in the name of elections on March 28 and April 11. This is nothing but self-indictment and amounts to an attempt to hide behind a finger which, of course, will fail woefully,” Rivers APC said in a statement issued Tuesday morning in Port Harcourt by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya.

The party dismissed Rivers INEC and PDP’s argument as untenable, saying: “These two organisations seemed to have conveniently forgotten that INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, expressly stated that where the card reader failed to work elections in such a place should be postponed till the next day, or in extreme cases, be called off. Contrary to this clear directive, the kindergarten criminals in PDP and Rivers INEC allocated figures to PDP’s candidates in their hurry to rob Rivers people of their power to elect the leaders of their choice. The revelation from the INEC headquarters that only 300,000 voters were accredited via card reader for the April 11 gubernatorial election whereas 1.1 million votes were credited to PDP guber candidate, Chief Nyesome Wike, provides conclusive proof that there was no election in Rivers State as our great party and International Election Observers have consistently maintained.”

Rivers APC consequently advised Chief Wike and other PDP candidates erroneously declared winner by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Gesila Khan, to stop parading themselves as Governor and lawmakers so as to minimise their embarrassment when they are removed by the Election Petition Tribunals.

The party also chided Rivers INEC and PDP leaders for claiming in court papers that those killed during the elections were victims of communal clashes and not as a result of electoral violence. “This absurd claim runs counter to overwhelming evidence and indicates that the consciences of those making them have become completely dead but we wish to assure them that Almighty God will certainly avenge the blood of these innocent citizens whose lives were brutally cut short by PDP leaders in their desperation to install Wike as Governor contrary to the wishes of the good people of Rivers State,” the statement concluded.

APC accuses PDP, INEC Of Trying To Cover Up Evidence Of Election Rigging In Rivers